Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2023 ACF OCS EE 0056
The Community Economic Development Planning Grants opportunity (HHS-2023-ACF-OCS-EE-0056) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services (ACF-OCS). It is designed to help Community Development Corporations (CDCs) build the internal administrative capacity needed to develop strong, viable Community Economic Development (CED) projects in places that have historically been left out of this kind of investment. In practical terms, these planning grants are meant to help organizations get ready to launch future CED projects by strengthening their back-office and project-development capabilities, so they can successfully compete for or implement larger CED efforts that generate community benefits and reinvestment.
OCS plans to award about $1.5 million total, with an expected 10 awards and a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $150,000 per recipient. The funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services (CFDA 93.570), and the funding instrument is a grant. The competition originally opened April 28, 2023, with an original closing date of July 12, 2023, and applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
The program’s core objective is to stimulate new CED project development in underserved and under-resourced communities, especially persistent high-poverty areas with struggling economies that have not been able to put forward a viable CED project in the past. OCS emphasizes that equity is central to how it intends to target these resources, including a focus on improving the geographic distribution of CED funds consistent with the authorizing CED statute. CDCs working in both urban and rural communities are encouraged to apply, reflecting an intent to reach a broad range of local contexts where poverty reduction and economic revitalization needs are high.
Policy priorities shape how OCS is directing this funding. The opportunity is aligned with Executive Order 14008 on tackling the climate crisis and the Justice40 Initiative, which generally aims to ensure that the benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. As part of that alignment, OCS underscores support for “energy communities,” meaning places that have experienced job losses or economic disruption tied to divestment from fossil fuels or that rely heavily on fossil fuel production or distribution. In addition, OCS highlights the importance of breaking down service silos and leveraging partnerships across OCS-funded programs, with a wraparound-services approach intended to reduce poverty by connecting economic development with broader community supports rather than treating them as separate tracks.
In terms of how applications may be scored or prioritized, OCS indicates it will award bonus points to proposals that match certain preferred conditions. These include projects located in states or trust territories that do not currently have active CED grants, projects situated in energy communities facing fossil-fuel-related economic dislocation, projects in communities with current or recent partnerships with other OCS program award recipients, projects that support Native American communities, and projects that align with the Justice40 initiative. Taken together, these bonuses signal that OCS is looking for planning efforts that both fill geographic gaps and advance equity- and climate-related priorities while building on existing networks and partnerships that can speed up implementation and strengthen long-term community impact.Apply for HHS 2023 ACF OCS EE 0056
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OCS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Economic Development Planning Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.570.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 12, 2023 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 pm Eastern Standard Time on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Community Economic Development Planning Grants opportunity?
The Community Economic Development (CED) Planning Grants opportunity (HHS-2023-ACF-OCS-EE-0056) is a discretionary federal grant program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS). It is designed to help organizations prepare to develop strong, viable Community Economic Development projects by building internal administrative and project-development capacity.
Who is running and funding this program?
This opportunity is administered by HHS/ACF/OCS (Office of Community Services). The funding instrument is a grant, and the funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services.
What type of organizations is this designed to support?
The planning grants are designed to help Community Development Corporations (CDCs) strengthen their internal administrative capacity so they can develop future CED projects, especially in communities that have historically been left out of this type of investment.
What is the main purpose of a CED Planning Grant?
The main purpose is readiness: these awards are meant to help organizations get prepared to launch future Community Economic Development projects by strengthening back-office functions and project-development capabilities. The goal is to position organizations to successfully compete for and/or implement larger CED efforts that generate community benefits and reinvestment.
What kinds of communities is OCS trying to reach through this funding?
OCS is aiming to stimulate new CED project development in underserved and under-resourced communities, with a particular emphasis on persistent high-poverty areas and struggling economies that have not been able to put forward a viable CED project in the past.
Are both urban and rural communities eligible or encouraged?
Yes. CDCs working in both urban and rural communities are encouraged to apply, reflecting an intent to reach a broad range of local contexts where poverty reduction and economic revitalization needs are high.
How much funding is available in total?
OCS plans to award about $1.5 million total under this opportunity.
How many awards does OCS expect to make?
OCS expects to make approximately 10 awards.
What is the maximum award amount per recipient?
The maximum (ceiling) award amount is $150,000 per recipient.
What is the CFDA number and funding activity category?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.570, and the funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services.
Is this a formula program or a competitive/discretionary grant?
This is a discretionary grant program.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically.
What was the application deadline and time zone?
The original closing date was July 12, 2023, and applications were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
When did the competition originally open?
The competition originally opened on April 28, 2023.
What does OCS mean by making equity central to this opportunity?
OCS indicates that equity is central to how it intends to target resources through this program. It emphasizes reaching communities that have historically been left out of investment, addressing persistent high-poverty areas, and improving the geographic distribution of CED funds consistent with the authorizing CED statute.
How does this opportunity connect to Executive Order 14008 and the Justice40 Initiative?
OCS states that the opportunity is aligned with Executive Order 14008 (tackling the climate crisis) and the Justice40 Initiative, which generally aims to ensure that benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. OCS also highlights that alignment as a program direction and priority consideration in this competition.
What are “energy communities” in the context of this grant?
OCS describes energy communities as places that have experienced job losses or economic disruption tied to divestment from fossil fuels, or communities that rely heavily on fossil fuel production or distribution.
Does OCS indicate any priorities related to energy communities?
Yes. OCS underscores support for energy communities, particularly those facing fossil-fuel-related economic dislocation.
Does OCS encourage partnerships or coordination with other programs?
Yes. OCS highlights the importance of breaking down service silos and leveraging partnerships across OCS-funded programs. It points to a wraparound-services approach that connects economic development with broader community supports as part of a poverty-reduction strategy.
What does OCS mean by a “wraparound-services approach” here?
Based on the opportunity description, OCS is encouraging approaches that link economic development work with broader community supports, rather than treating them as separate tracks, with the intent to reduce poverty through more coordinated services and partnerships.
Are there any scoring preferences or bonus points mentioned?
Yes. OCS indicates it will award bonus points to proposals that match certain preferred conditions.
What conditions may qualify a proposal for bonus points?
OCS lists several preferred conditions that may receive bonus points, including: projects located in states or trust territories that do not currently have active CED grants; projects situated in energy communities facing fossil-fuel-related economic dislocation; projects in communities with current or recent partnerships with other OCS program award recipients; projects that support Native American communities; and projects that align with the Justice40 initiative.
Why does OCS emphasize projects in states or trust territories without active CED grants?
OCS signals an interest in improving the geographic distribution of CED funds and filling gaps where there are not currently active CED grants, consistent with the authorizing CED statute.
Does this opportunity specifically mention support for Native American communities?
Yes. OCS notes that proposals supporting Native American communities are among the preferred conditions for bonus points.
What is the overall intent behind the bonus point categories?
Taken together, the bonus categories suggest OCS is looking to fund planning efforts that help fill geographic gaps, advance equity- and climate-related priorities (including Justice40 and energy community support), and build on partnerships and networks that can strengthen implementation and long-term community impact.
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